Defense Secretary Hegseth Made False Claims Under Oath, CNN Fact-Checker Reports

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been called out by CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale for making false statements during sworn testimony before congressional committees last week.

According to Dale’s analysis, Hegseth made inaccurate claims during both Senate and House Armed Services Committee hearings where he testified about the Defense Department’s 2027 budget request, his recent staff changes, and ongoing military concerns related to Iran.

The most notable false statement occurred during Wednesday’s House hearing when Representative Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) asked Hegseth a pointed question about a hypothetical scenario. Tokuda inquired whether Hegseth would comply with an order from President Donald Trump to deploy troops at polling locations during midterm elections—an action that would violate federal law unless specific conditions were met.

Instead of directly addressing the hypothetical, Hegseth claimed that Trump would never issue unlawful orders. He then pivoted to accusing former President Joe Biden of having already issued such orders during the recent election cycle.

Dale’s fact check categorically refuted this claim. “All of the National Guard activations connected to the 2024 election were ordered by state governors, not by Biden,” Dale reported. His investigation revealed that none of the troops were actually deployed to polling locations.

The fact-checker noted that his team received responses from 11 states confirming that Guard personnel were not stationed at voting sites. Instead, these Guard members worked behind the scenes in other capacities—primarily assisting with election cybersecurity efforts or serving as internal liaisons—or weren’t activated for election duties at all.

When given an opportunity to correct his statement the following day during the Senate hearing, Hegseth doubled down on his false claim when challenged by Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan).

The exchange highlights growing tensions in congressional oversight hearings as lawmakers scrutinize the new administration’s Defense Department leadership. Hegseth, a former Fox News personality who was nominated by President Trump following the 2024 election, has already faced significant scrutiny over his qualifications and policy positions.

Military experts note that the deployment of troops at polling locations is an extremely sensitive topic in American democracy, with strict legal guardrails limiting the circumstances under which armed forces can be involved in election administration. The Posse Comitatus Act severely restricts the use of federal military personnel to enforce domestic policies, including at polling places.

The false statements made under oath could potentially complicate Hegseth’s already contentious relationship with congressional Democrats, who have expressed concerns about his approach to civilian leadership of the military. Several lawmakers have indicated they may request formal corrections to the record.

This incident occurs against the backdrop of broader debates about election security and the role of government institutions in safeguarding democratic processes. The Defense Department under Hegseth has been implementing significant personnel changes while simultaneously addressing ongoing global conflicts and preparing budget requests for congressional approval.

The hearings, which were intended to focus primarily on defense budget priorities and international security concerns, have instead highlighted the polarized political environment surrounding defense policy under the new administration.

Neither the Defense Department nor Hegseth’s office had issued a correction or clarification regarding the statements as of press time.